Improvement in machines for driving tacks



2Sheets--Sheet1. A. SMITH.

Improvement in Machines for Driving Tacks.

- No. 129,992, PatentedJulySO, 1872..-

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2 Sheets--Shet2.

A SMITH.

l mpr ovement in Machines for Driving Tacks.

No.129,992., Patentedjul somsn,

ADDISON SMITH, OF PERRYSBURG, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR DRIVING TACKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 129,992,, dated July 30, 1872.

SPECIFICATION.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, AnDIsoN SMITH, of Perrysburg, inthe county of WVood and State of Ohio, have invented an Improved Machine for Driving Tacks and Nails; and do hereby declare that the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, hereinafter referred to, forms a full speeification of the same, wherein I have set forth the nature. of my said invention, by which the same may be distinguished from others of a similar class, together with such parts as I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent.

My invention relates to that class of machines which are made use of for the purpose of driving tacks and nails; and the nature thereof consists in certain improvements in the construction of the same, hereinafter described and shown.

In the accompanying plate of drawing,

' whichv illustrates my invention and forms a part of the specification thereof, Figure 1 is a view. in perspective. Fig. 2 illustrates the separator. Fig. 3 represents the forceps. Fig. 4 is a detached view ofthe driving-lever, and mechanism attached thereto.

The construction, operation, and relative arrangements of the component parts of my invention are as follows:

In the drawing referred to, letter Z designates the receptacle to supply the tacks. For

this purpose I use a long hollow cylinder rcvolving on its axis and slightly inclined from the horizontal, with its upper end closed. Near, the elevated end of the cylinder is an opening, Y, with a movable cover, through which opening the tacks are charged, and as the cylinder is slowly revolved they gradually descend, and finally drop out,of the open end into a deep narrow hopper or trough, so hi ghly inclined that the tacks will not lodge in their descent. The lower portion of this trough, for about half its length, is slotted, so, as the tacks descend, their shanks will drop through the slot and slide down upon their heads. The tacks pass fromthe trough downward between two inclining parallel bars, W, having an intervening space just sufficient for the easy passage of the shanks of the tacks,

their heads resting on the upper edges of the bars. The lower ends of these bars join onto the separator so as to afforda continuous passage for the tacks. The cylinder is revolved by means of a ratchet-wheel, V, with double pawls U and lever S, receiving motion through a connecting-rod, T, from the driving-lever H. The separator 0 consists of a rectangular bedplate, secured by an arm to the foundationbar 1%. On the upper face of this plate, through its center, a longitudinal groove is cut with depth sufficient to clear the tacks. A sufficient inclination is given to this plate for the easy descent of the tacks. On the upper face of this plate are fastened the two plates A and B, leaving a parallel space or slot, s, between them suflicient to pass the shanks of the tacks. On the upper face of plate A, the flat radial bar 1) turns about its center (3. The opposite end of this bar is bent so as to sweep across slot 8. A stud is fixed into this bar and receives pressure from spring a, tending to throw the bent arm across the slot. This I call the releasing-bar. In a trans verse groove, on the under side -of plateB, a flat bar, E, (named the cut-off bar,) slides freely. The inner end of this bar terminates on its lower edge in a narrow arm with a blunt rounded point, curved only on its upper edge. This bar carries a stud that passes through a slotted opening in plate B. It reoeives pressure from spring b, driving the prolonged arm across the slot s. In the path these two bars (D and E) take across the slot. A sufficient intervening space is left to contain the shank of the intercepted tack about to be discharged into the forceps. These bars are moved outwardly from slot 8 by slide-bar F, having fixed bearings in the bedplate. The inner portion of this bar, on the lower edge, projects below the studs of bars D and E, so that the squared ends of the projection may serve as tappets to drive these bars outwardly from the slot. The length of this projectionis just sufficient to fill the space between the studs of bars D and E when both bars are closed over the slot, so that the movement of one bar may be completed before that of the other begins. In this way the column of tacks in the slot is always fully supported. The bar F is driven forward by the downward stroke of the driving-lever by an adjustable stud, g, set on the side of the driving-lever. This stud drives the cam-lever G, pivoted to rear end of the foundation-bar. ported by spring 0, and forced down upon the turn movements of these same parts is produced, on the rising of the driving-lever, by the counter action of spring at against lever G. The driving-lever H turns on a center on the It is suphead of the tack by the action of the foot, through the intervention of a stirrup and 1evers. On the forward end of the driving-lever, underneath, the steel driving-pin P is firmly fixed. It tapers to a square end within the size of the head of the tack. The forceps 0 are pivoted transversely on the forward end of the radial bar J. The forward arms, for about one-third of their length, are cut away on their inner edges, so, when closed, to form a slot. The inner portion of the arms so slotted, and directly under the driving-pin P, is left flat to properly seat the tack for being driven, and the remainder turned upward to meet the ends of plates A and B, so as to form a continuous slotted passage for the tacks. The forceps are opened by a downward pressure upon the fixed wedge K, set transversely between the forward arms, and closed again by a spring pressing outwardly against the rear arms. A spring under the arm J holds the forceps upward against'a stop, in position to receive the tack.

The machine, in the form represented, is designed only to drive tacks or nails near an edge, being used chiefly for the purpose of nailing up fruit and other packing boxes. When broader surfaces are to be nailed it is only necessary to place the driving-lever and bar J on the side instead of the top of the foundation-bar, and operate the lever from above.

In operating the machine, suppose slot 8 to be filled with tacks, the column resting upon the arm of slide-bar E, resting across the slot, and the moving parts in position for the downstroke of the driver. Then, by depressing the drivinglever, the tack r, resting in the forceps, will be driven home. The forceps at the same time are carried down with the tack; but before the stroke is completed the wedge K forces the arms asunder, and so releases them from the head of the tack, while the spring under arm J returns the forceps to their former position, ready to receive another tack. Simultaneously the bar E uncovers the slot 8, while bar D closes over it to hold in turn the column of tacks that now has dropped upon it. Upon the rising of the driving-lever a reverse movement of these bars takes place.

The arm of bar E is again thrown across slot 8, passing between the lowest tack of the column and the one next above. Bar F still moving backward, its tappet projection at length strikes the stud of bar D, the arm of which is driven off from the slot. The intercepted tack, being now left without support, drops into the forceps in position to be driven, as before.

Having thus described the construction and operation of my invention, I will state in the following clauses what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. I claim the receptacle for the supply of tacks, rotated by the double pa-wls and ratchet-wheel, as described, the slotted hopper, and the parallel bars, when combined and operating together as described.

2. The combination of the ratchet-wheel V, double pawls U, lever S, connecting-rod T, and driving-lever H, all operating together as and for the purposes described.

3. The separator, consisting of a rectangular bed-plate, secured by an arm to the foundation-bar B, and provided with a longitudinal groove with a depth sufficient to clear the tacks, plates A and B, with a slot, .9, between them, radial bar D, spring a, flat bar E, spring I), and bar F, operated as described, all combined and operating together as and for the purposes described. 1

4. The combination of the driving-lever H, provided with a stud, g, cam-lever G, pivoted to the standardvX, and joined by means of a connecting-rod to the reciprocating bar F.

5. The driving-lever H, turning on a center on the rear end of the foundation-bar, provided with a spring, 0, and driving-pin I, when combined and arranged with the separator and forceps, as and for the purposes described.

6. The forceps, pivoted to the radial bar and provided with a spring pressing outwardly against the rear arms thereof, in combination with the fixed wedge K and driver 1?.

7. I also claim as distinct the device for separating the tacks-that is, by the alternate working of sliding or radial bars across the column of tacks the same are cut off, one at a time, and then delivered into the forcepsto be used in combination, as already described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 19th day of February, 1872.

ADDISON SMITH.

Witnesses:

JOHN G. WEBB, O. H. ALLEN. 

